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"The most significant character in the novel is Ma Joad. Without her emphasis on the family, the Joads would not have persisted." Ma Joad, one of the central female characters in John Steinbeck's 'Grapes of Wrath', is significant due to her emphasis on the importance of persevering. The novel portrays the story of a struggling family, the Joads, who are forced from their home in Oklahoma and head to California in search for work and …

…the breakup of the family. The loss of their land marks the beginning of a series of difficulties the Joads undergo during their odyssey. For many generations, the Joads dwelt on the same land, hence, strong family ties existed. During the sufferings of the Joad family, Ma's true colours emerge, as any person's would during a crisis. As a result of tribulation, Ma emerges as a controlled, forceful, and selfless authority figure for the family.